Thermal energy harvesting for dispensing system

ABSTRACT

Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for harvesting thermal energy for utilization by a dispensing system are provided herein. The dispensing system may comprise one or more thermal scavenging devices configured to collect thermal energy from a user. For example, a first thermal scavenging device, coupled to a top housing portion of the dispensing system, may collect thermal energy from a palm of a user hand; a second thermal scavenging device, coupled to a bottom housing portion of the dispensing system, may collect thermal energy from a top portion of the user hand; and/or other thermal scavenging devices may be operatively coupled to the dispensing system. In this way, the collected thermal energy is transformed into electrical energy for powering the dispensing system (e.g., powering a current dispense event, stored for a subsequent dispense event, validation of a refill container, detection of a user, etc.).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/069,201, filed on Mar. 14, 2016, presentlytitled “THERMAL ENERGY HARVESTING FOR DISPENSING SYSTEM”, which claimspriority to and is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/770,440,filed on Feb. 19, 2013, presently titled “THERMAL ENERGY HARVESTING FORDISPENSING SYSTEM”, both of which are incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The instant application is generally directed towards dispensing systemsfor dispensing a material, such as a liquid, powder, aerosol, or othertypes of materials. For example, the instant application is directed toa dispensing system that utilizes thermal energy, harvested from a user,for powering the dispensing system.

BACKGROUND

Many locations, such as hospitals, factories, restaurants, homes, etc.,utilize dispensing systems to dispense material. For example, adispensing system may dispense a liquid material, powder material,aerosol material, and/or other materials (e.g., soap, anti-bacterialgels, cleansers, disinfectants, lotions, etc.). Some dispensing systemsutilize a refill container for ease of maintenance, environmentalconcerns, etc. The refill container may, for example, comprise a pumpand/or nozzle mechanism that can be used by a dispensing system todispense material from the refill container.

A dispensing system may utilize a power source to perform various tasks,such as a detect user task, a validate refill container task, a dispensetask, etc. In an example, a hands free dispensing system may utilize abattery as a power source. In another example, the hands free dispensingsystem may utilize a solar panel as a power source. Unfortunately, powersources used by a dispensing system may increase material and/ormanufacturing costs of the dispensing system.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key factors oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for harvestingthermal energy for utilization by a dispensing system are providedherein. In some embodiments, a thermal scavenging structure isconfigured to collect thermal energy from a user, and transform thethermal energy into electrical energy for utilization by the dispensingsystem. It may be appreciated that the thermal energy may be collectedfrom any portion of a user, such as a hand of the user or other part ofthe user. The thermal scavenging structure may comprise one or morethermal scavenging devices that are operably coupled to a housing of thedispensing system. In an example, the one or more thermal scavengingdevices are oriented with respect to a material dispense zone (e.g., anarea into which material is dispensed to a user through a dispensernozzle) according to a thermal collection configuration.

In an example, a first thermal scavenging device may be mounted onto afront housing portion of the dispensing system, such that thermal energyis collected from a body of the user. In another example, a secondthermal scavenging device may be mounted to an upper housing portion ofthe material dispense zone (e.g., a portion comprising the dispensernozzle), such that thermal energy is collected from a palm of a userhand when placed into the material dispense zone. In another example, athird thermal scavenging device may be mounted to a bottom housingportion of the material dispense zone (e.g., a portion comprising aspill tray), such that thermal energy is collected from a top portion ofthe user hand when placed into the material dispense zone. In anotherexample, a fourth thermal scavenging device may be mounted to a backhousing portion of the material dispense zone, such that thermal energyis collected from a fingertip region of the user hand when placed intothe material dispense zone. In another example, a fifth thermalscavenging device may be mounted to a first side housing portion of thematerial dispense zone, such that thermal energy is collected from alittle finger side of the user hand when placed into the materialdispense zone. In another example, a sixth thermal scavenging device maybe mounted to a second side housing portion of the material dispensezone, such that thermal energy is collected from a thumb side of theuser hand when placed into the material dispense zone. It may beappreciated that any number of thermal scavenging devices may be mountedand/or oriented in any manner to facilitate harvesting thermal energy.

In some embodiments, the thermal scavenging structure (e.g., and/or oneor more thermal scavenging devices thereof) may utilize the thermalenergy (e.g., before transformation into the electrical energy) tomodify a shape of the dispenser nozzle (e.g., a nozzle comprised of amaterial that changes shape based upon heat) to facilitate flow of amaterial from the dispenser nozzle during a current dispense event. Thedispenser nozzle may comprise a material (e.g., a memory material) thatmay substantially return to an original shape once the dispenser nozzleis no longer subjected to the thermal energy.

In some embodiments, a utilization device is configured to utilize theelectrical energy, transformed from the thermal energy, for powering thedispensing system. It may be appreciated that the electrical energy maybe utilized for various tasks, such as an energy storage task (e.g.,storing energy into a battery or capacitor utilized to power thedispensing system), a refill container validation task, a dispense task,etc. In an example, the utilization device utilizes the electricalenergy for a current dispense event, such that material is dispensedinto a user hand (e.g., a user hand from which the thermal energy wascollected). In another example, the utilization device stores theelectrical energy within a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor,and/or energy storage device that may provide power for a subsequentdispense event.

The following description and annexed drawings set forth certainillustrative aspects and implementations. These are indicative of but afew of the various ways in which one or more aspects can be employed.Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the disclosure willbecome apparent from the following detailed description when consideredin conjunction with the annexed drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of harvesting thermalenergy for utilization by a dispensing system, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a component block diagram illustrating a dispensing system fordispensing a material utilizing harvested thermal energy, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a component block diagram illustrating a dispensing system forstoring electrical energy transformed from thermal energy collected froma user, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4A is a component block diagram illustrating a dispensing systemfor utilizing electrical energy, transformed from thermal energycollected from a user, to power a current dispense event, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 4B is a component block diagram illustrating a dispensing systemfor facilitating a current dispense event based upon thermal energycollected from a user, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a component block diagram illustrating a system for harvestingthermal energy for utilization by a dispensing system, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 6 is a component block diagram illustrating a system for harvestingthermal energy for utilization by a dispensing system, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a thermal collection configuration used toorient one or more thermal scavenging devices with respect to adispensing system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a thermal scavenging device, according tosome embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer tolike elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providean understanding of the claimed subject matter. It is evident, however,that the claimed subject matter can be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, structures and devices are illustrated inblock diagram form in order to facilitate describing the claimed subjectmatter.

An embodiment for harvesting thermal energy for utilization by adispensing system is illustrated by an exemplary method 100 of FIG. 1.At 102, the method starts. At 104, thermal energy (e.g., heat) iscollected from a user. In some embodiments, thermal energy is collectedby one or more thermal scavenging devices operatively coupled to (e.g.,directly and/or indirectly) a housing of the dispensing system. Thehousing may define a material dispense zone comprising an area withinwhich a material is dispensed to a user through a dispenser nozzle. Inan example, the thermal energy is collected by a first thermalscavenging device operatively coupled to a top portion of the housing(e.g., an upper portion of the material dispense zone comprising thedispenser nozzle), and is configured to collect the thermal energy froma user, such as from a palm of a user hand. In another example, secondthermal energy is collected by a second thermal scavenging deviceoperatively coupled to a bottom portion of the housing (e.g., a portioncomprising a spill tray). In this way, one or more thermal scavengingdevices (e.g., a third thermal scavenging device coupled to a first sidehousing portion, a fourth thermal scavenging device coupled to a secondside housing portion, a fifth thermal scavenging device coupled to aback housing portion, a sixth thermal scavenging device coupled to afront housing portion, etc.) are configured to collect thermal energyfrom the user for utilization by the dispensing system. For example, thethermal energy may be utilized for a power storage task, a dispensetask, a refill container validation task, etc.

In some embodiments, the thermal energy is used to facilitatemodification of a shape of the dispenser nozzle, such that the modifiedshape allows the dispenser nozzle to dispense material during a currentdispense event. After the thermal energy is no longer applied to thedispenser nozzle (e.g., the user removes the user hand from the materialdispense zone after the current dispense event), the dispenser nozzlemay substantially return to an original shape, such that the dispensernozzle restricts the flow of the material from the dispenser nozzle(e.g., the dispenser nozzle may comprise a memory material capable ofreturning to an original shape).

At 106, the thermal energy (e.g., heat transferred from the user to afirst material of a thermal scavenging device, such that a temperatureof the first material is increased based upon the heat) is transformedinto electrical energy (e.g., a current or voltage created based uponthe first material, having the increased temperature, transferring heatto a second material, such that a temperature of the second material isincreased based upon the transferred heat). For example, the thermalscavenging device, such as a thermoelectric generator (e.g., utilizing abimetallic junction, a semiconductor p-n junction, or any type ofthermoelectric generator), may operate based upon a Seebeck Effect togenerate the electrical energy due to the temperature difference betweenthe first material and the second material (e.g., the thermal energycollected from the user increases the temperature of the first materialto a temperature that is greater than a temperature of the secondmaterial). In some embodiments, a chemical aspect is comprised withinthe transformation of the thermal energy into electrical energy.

At 108, the electrical energy is utilized for powering the dispensingsystem. In some embodiments, the electrical energy is utilized for acurrent dispense event. In an example, the current dispense event may bepowered merely by the electrical energy (e.g., the dispensing system maynot rely upon a battery). In another example, the current dispense eventmay be powered by a combination of the electrical energy and energyprovided from another source (e.g., energy from a battery or electricalenergy stored from previously harvested thermal energy). In anotherexample, the electrical energy is stored for a subsequent dispense event(e.g., stored within a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor, or otherstorage device). In another example, the electrical energy is utilizedfor other tasks, such as validation of a refill container or detectionof a user. For example, rather than dispensing material, the electricalenergy may be used to detect the presence of a user, which may justify adispense event, and/or enable activation of another sensor to verify thepresence of a user, etc. In some embodiments, an amount of electricalenergy stored is between about 0.01 Joules to about 10.0 Joules. In someembodiments, the stored electrical energy may be from multipleharvesting, collecting, scavenging, etc. events. As will be appreciated,thermal energy can be collected (e.g., by multiple thermal scavengingdevices, larger thermal scavenging devices, etc.) from multiple areasaround a user (e.g., the user hand) to facilitate collecting a greateramount of thermal energy and thus generating a greater amount ofelectrical energy than would otherwise be obtained with fewer or smallerthermal scavenging devices. At 110, the method ends.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a dispensing system 200 for dispensinga material utilizing harvested thermal energy. The dispensing system 200may comprise a housing 204 configured to hold a refill container 202comprising material (e.g., a liquid material, a powder material, anaerosol material, an antibacterial product, etc.). The housing 204 maydefine a material dispense zone comprising an area within which amaterial is dispensed from the refill container 202 by the dispensingsystem during a dispense event. The housing 204 may comprise variousmechanical and/or electrical components that facilitate operation of thedispensing system 200, such as one or more components that dispensematerial from the refill container 202. For example, the housing 204 maycomprise a motor 206 and a gear train 208 used to dispense material fromthe refill container 202 during a dispense event (e.g., a user may placea hand under an optical actuator to initiate the dispense event). Duringa dispense event, the motor 206, the gear train 208, and/or othercomponents (e.g., a dispenser nozzle of the refill container 202) maydispense material from the refill container 202, where any one or moreof which may be powered, at least in part, by thermal energy harvestedfrom a user.

The dispensing system 200 may comprise a thermal scavenging structure214. The thermal scavenging structure 214 may comprise one or morethermal scavenging devices oriented relative to the material dispensezone according to a thermal collection configuration (e.g., FIGS. 5-7).Respective thermal scavenging devices may be configured to collectthermal energy from a user, and transform the thermal energy intoelectrical energy. The dispensing system 200 may comprise a utilizationdevice 212 configured to utilize the electrical energy for powering thedispensing system 200 (e.g., energy storage task, a dispense task, arefill container validation task, etc.). In an example, the utilizationdevice 212 may be configured to store the electrical energy within astorage device 210 for a subsequent dispense event. In another example,the utilization device 212 may be configured to utilize the electricalenergy for a current dispense event, such as by powering the motor 206using the electrical energy.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a dispensing system 300 for storingelectrical energy 308 transformed from thermal energy 304 collected froma user. The dispensing system 300 may comprise a housing 204 withinwhich a refill container 202, comprising material that can be dispensedby the dispensing system 300, may be installed. The dispensing system300 may comprise a thermal scavenging structure 214 configured toharvest thermal energy from a user for use in powering the dispensingsystem 300. In an example, the thermal scavenging structure 214 maycomprise a first thermal scavenging device operably coupled to a lowerportion of the housing 204 that comprises a dispenser nozzle 306configured to dispense material from the refill container 202. The firstthermal scavenging device may be configured to collect thermal energy304 from a user, such as a user hand 302. The first thermal scavengingdevice may transform the thermal energy 304 into electrical energy 308.

The dispensing system 300 may comprise a utilization device 212configured to utilize the electrical energy 308 for powering thedispensing system 300. In an example, the utilization device 212 maystore the electrical energy 308 within a storage device 210, such as abattery, capacitor, super capacitor, or other types of storage device.In this way, the stored electrical energy 308 may be used to perform asubsequent task (e.g., a subsequent dispense task, a refill containervalidation task, etc.). In some embodiments, the dispensing system 300may be hands free and/or battery free, thus relying merely uponelectrical energy generated from thermal energy of a user. In someembodiments, the dispensing system 300 may be hands free but not batteryfree, such that the electrical energy is used to supplement and/orreplenish a power supply, such as a battery (e.g., the storage device210), of the dispensing system 300.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a dispensing system 400 for utilizingelectrical energy transformed from thermal energy 304 collected from auser to power a current dispense event 402. The dispensing system 400may comprise a housing 204 within which a refill container 202,comprising material that can be dispensed by the dispensing system 400,may be installed. The dispensing system 400 may comprise a thermalscavenging structure 214 configured to harvest thermal energy from auser for use in powering the dispensing system 400. The thermalscavenging structure 214 may comprise a first thermal scavenging deviceoperably coupled to a lower portion of the housing 204 that comprises adispenser nozzle 306 configured to dispense material from the refillcontainer 202. The first thermal scavenging device may be configured tocollect thermal energy 304 from a user, such as a user hand 302. Thefirst thermal scavenging device may transform the thermal energy 304into electrical energy.

The dispensing system 400 may comprise a utilization device 212configured to utilize the electrical energy for powering the dispensingsystem 400. In an example, the utilization device 212 utilizes theelectrical energy for the current dispense event 402. For example, theelectrical energy is used (e.g., alone or in combination with additionalelectrical energy from another source) to power a motor 206, a geartrain 208, and or other components configures to dispense material 404from the dispenser nozzle 306 into the user hand 302. In someembodiments, the dispensing system 400 may be hands free and/or batteryfree, thus relying merely upon electrical energy generated from thermalenergy of a user. In some embodiments, the dispensing system 400 may behands free but not battery free, such that the electrical energy is usedto supplement and/or replenish a power supply, such as a battery, of thedispensing system 400.

FIG. 4B illustrates an example of a dispensing system 450 forfacilitating a current dispense event based upon thermal energy 304collected from a user. The dispensing system 450 may comprise a housing204 within which a refill container 202, comprising material that can bedispensed by the dispensing system 450, may be installed. The dispensingsystem 450 may comprise a thermal scavenging structure 214 configured toharvest thermal energy from a user, such as a user hand 302, tofacilitate a current dispense event. In an example, the thermalscavenging structure 214, such as a first thermal scavenging device ofthe thermal scavenging structure 214, may be configured to modify 452 ashape of a dispenser nozzle 306, such that material 404 is dispensedthrough the dispenser nozzle 306 based upon the modified shape (e.g., anoutlet of the dispenser nozzle 306 may expand to a diameter that allowsthe material 404 to flow through the outlet). In an example, thedispenser nozzle 306 is comprised of a memory material, such that thedispense nozzle 306 substantially returns to an original shape after thecurrent dispense event (e.g., once the dispenser nozzle 306 is notsubjected to the thermal energy, such as when the user hand 302 isremoved from a material dispense zone). In some embodiments, thedispenser nozzle 306 is configured to facilitate the current dispenseevent without functionality provided by the thermal scavenging structure214 (e.g., the shape of the dispenser nozzle 306 is modified based uponthe thermal energy from the user hand 302 without having the thermalscavenging structure 214 process the thermal energy).

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a system 500 for harvesting thermalenergy for utilization by a dispensing system. The system 500 comprisesa first thermal scavenging device 502, a second thermal scavengingdevice 504, and/or a utilization device 212. The first thermalscavenging device 502 may be operably coupled to an upper portion of ahousing 204 of the dispensing system (e.g., an upper portion of thehousing 204 comprising a dispenser nozzle 306). The second thermalscavenging device 504 may be operably coupled to a back portion of thehousing 204. The upper portion and the back portion of the housing 204may define a material dispense zone of the dispensing system. Thematerial dispense zone may comprise an area within which a material isdispensed from a refill container 202 to a user by the dispensingsystem.

The first thermal scavenging device 502 may be configured to collectthermal energy 506 from a user, such as from a palm of a user hand 302.The first thermal scavenging device 502 may transform the thermal energy506 into electrical energy 510. The second thermal scavenging device 504may be configured to collect second thermal energy 508 from the user,such as from fingertips of the user hand 302. The second thermalscavenging device 504 may transform the second thermal energy 508 intosecond electrical energy 512. It may be appreciated that any number ofthermal scavenging device may be utilized for harvesting thermal energy,and may be oriented with respect to the dispensing system according toany configuration.

The utilization device 212 may be configured to utilize the electricalenergy 510 and/or the second electrical energy 512 for powering thedispensing system. In an example, the utilization device 212 may storethe electrical energy 510 and/or the second electrical energy 512 withina storage device. In another example, the utilization device 212 mayutilize the electrical energy 510 and/or the second electrical energy512 for a current dispense event In some embodiments, if less than allof the electrical energy 510 and/or the second electrical energy 512 areused for the current dispense event, then the remaining electricalenergy may be stored within the storage device. In some embodiments, ifthe electrical energy 510 and the second electrical energy 512 are notsufficient to power the current dispense event, then additional powermay be used from another power source such as a battery (e.g., chargedfrom previously harvested thermal energy).

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a system 600 for harvesting thermalenergy for utilization by a dispensing system. The system 600 comprisesa first thermal scavenging device 502, a second thermal scavengingdevice 504, a third thermal scavenging device 602, and/or a utilizationdevice 212. The first thermal scavenging device 502 may be operablycoupled to an upper portion of a housing 204 of the dispensing system(e.g., an upper portion of the housing 204 comprising a dispenser nozzle306). The second thermal scavenging device 504 may be operably coupledto a back portion of the housing 204. The third thermal scavengingdevice 602 may be operably coupled to a lower portion of the housing 204of the dispensing system (e.g., a spill tray of the dispensing system).The upper portion, the back portion, and the lower portion of thehousing 204 may define a material dispense zone of the dispensingsystem. The material dispense zone may comprise an area within which amaterial is dispensed from a refill container 202 to a user by thedispensing system.

The first thermal scavenging device 502 may be configured to collectthermal energy 506 from a user, such as a palm of a user hand 302. Thefirst thermal scavenging device 502 may transform the thermal energy 506into electrical energy 510. The second thermal scavenging device 504 maybe configured to collect second thermal energy 508 from the user, suchas fingertips of the user hand 302. The second thermal scavenging device504 may transform the second thermal energy 508 into second electricalenergy 512. The third thermal scavenging device 602 may be configured tocollect third thermal energy 604 from the user, such as a top side ofthe user hand 302. The third thermal scavenging device 602 may transformthe third thermal energy 604 into third electrical energy 606. It may beappreciated that any number of thermal scavenging device may be utilizedfor harvesting thermal energy, and may be oriented with respect to thedispensing system according to any configuration.

The utilization device 212 may be configured to utilize the electricalenergy 510, the second electrical energy 512, and/or the thirdelectrical energy 606 for powering the dispensing system. In an example,the utilization device 212 may store the electrical energy 510, thesecond electrical energy 512, and/or the third electrical energy 606within a storage device. In another example, the utilization device 212may utilize the electrical energy 510, the second electrical energy 512,and/or the third electrical energy 606 for a current dispense event. Insome embodiments, if less than all of the electrical energy 510, thesecond electrical energy 512, and/or the third electrical energy 606 areused for the current dispense event, then the remaining electricalenergy may be stored within the storage device. In some embodiments, ifthe electrical energy 510, the second electrical energy 512, and thethird electrical energy 606 are not sufficient to power the currentdispense event, then additional power may be used from another powersource such as a battery (e.g., charged from previously harvestedthermal energy).

FIG. 7 illustrates an example 700 of a thermal collection configurationused to orient one or more thermal scavenging devices with respect to adispensing system. That is, the thermal collection configuration maydefine one or more thermal collection zones within which thermalscavenging devices may be placed and/or oriented. In an example, a firstthermal collection zone may be associated with a top portion 702 of ahousing of the dispensing system (e.g., a portion of the housingcomprising a dispenser nozzle). The housing may define a materialdispense zone comprising an area within which a material is dispensed toa user, such as a user hand 302, by the dispensing system. A firstthermal scavenging device may be oriented according to the first thermalcollection zone (e.g., the first thermal scavenging device may collectthermal energy from a palm of the user hand). A second thermalcollection zone may be associated with a bottom portion 708 of thehousing (e.g., a portion of the housing comprising a spill tray). Asecond thermal scavenging device may be oriented according to the secondthermal collection zone (e.g., the second thermal scavenging device maycollect thermal energy from a top portion of the user hand 302).

A third thermal collection zone may be associated with a first sideportion 704 of the housing. A third thermal scavenging device may beoriented according to the third thermal collection zone (e.g., the thirdthermal scavenging device may collect thermal energy from a littlefinger side of the user hand 302). A fourth thermal collection zone maybe associated with a second side portion 706 of the housing. A fourththermal scavenging device may be oriented according to the fourththermal collection zone (e.g., the fourth thermal scavenging device maycollect thermal energy from a thumb side of the user hand 302). A fifththermal collection zone may be associated with a back portion 710 of thehousing. A fifth thermal scavenging device may be oriented according tothe fifth thermal collection zone (e.g., the fifth thermal scavengingdevice may collect thermal energy from fingertips of the user hand 302).

FIG. 8 illustrates an example 800 of a thermal scavenging device 814.The thermal scavenging device 814 may comprise a first material 804(e.g., a first metallic connector) that is connected by one or moresemiconductor elements (e.g., an n-type element 806 and/or a p-typeelement 808) to a second material 810 (e.g., a second metallicconnector). A temperature of the first material 804 may increase basedupon thermal energy 802 from a user, such as a hand 302. For example,the temperature of the first material 804 may increase relative to atemperature of the second material, resulting in a temperaturedifference between the first material 804 (e.g., having a relativelyhigher temperature) and the second material 810 (e.g., having arelatively lower temperature). Charge-carrier diffusion may result basedupon the temperature difference between the first material 804 and thesecond material 810. In particular, hot carriers from the first material804 may diffuse towards the second material 810 because the secondmaterial 810 has a relatively lower density of hot carriers due to therelatively lower temperature of the second material 810 in relation tothe first material 804. Similarly, cold carriers may diffuse from thesecond material 810 to the first material 804. Electrical energy, suchas an electric current, is created based upon the diffusion of thecarriers. For example, the thermal energy 802 may drive electrons in then-type element 806 towards the second material 810, thus resulting in acurrent through a circuit 812. Holes within the p-type element 808 flowin the direction of the current. In this way, the thermal energy istransformed into electrical energy, which can be stored or used withoutbeing stored.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features or methodological acts, it is to be understood thatthe subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, thespecific features and acts described above are disclosed as exampleforms of implementing the claims.

Many modifications may be made to the instant disclosure withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter. Unlessspecified otherwise, “first,” “second,” or the like are not intended toimply a temporal aspect, a spatial aspect, an ordering, etc. Rather,such terms are merely used as identifiers, names, etc. for features,elements, items, etc. For example, a first channel and a second channelgenerally correspond to channel A and channel B or two different or twoidentical channels or the same channel.

Moreover, “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example,instance, illustration, etc., and not necessarily as advantageous. Asused in this application, “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or”rather than an exclusive “or”. In addition, “a” and “an” as used in thisapplication are generally to be construed to mean “one or more” unlessspecified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singularform. Also, at least one of A and B or the like generally means A or Bor both A and B. Furthermore, to the extent that “includes”, “having”,“has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detaileddescription or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in amanner similar to “comprising”.

Also, although the disclosure has been shown and described with respectto one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modificationswill occur to others skilled in the art based upon a reading andunderstanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. Thedisclosure includes all such modifications and alterations and islimited only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for harvesting thermal energy forutilization by a dispensing system, comprising: a thermal scavengingdevice configured to: collect thermal energy from a portion of a humanuser when the portion of the human user enters a material dispense zone;and transform the thermal energy into electrical energy; and autilization device configured to: utilize the electrical energy to causethe dispensing system to dispense material into the material dispensezone.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the collecting the thermalenergy is performed while the portion of the human user is a distanceaway from the dispensing system.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thethermal scavenging device is configured to collect second thermal energyand transform the second thermal energy into second electrical energy,and the utilization device is configured to store the second electricalenergy.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the utilization device isconfigured to store the second electrical energy within at least one ofa battery, a capacitor or a super capacitor.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the thermal scavenging device is configured to collect secondthermal energy and transform the second thermal energy into secondelectrical energy, and the utilization device is configured to modify ashape of a dispenser nozzle based upon the second electrical energy. 6.The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing system is configured todispense at least one of a liquid material, a powder material or anaerosol material.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensingsystem is configured to dispense at least one of a soap, ananti-bacterial gel, a cleanser, a disinfectant or a lotion.
 8. A methodfor initiating a dispense event of a dispensing system, comprising:collecting, via a thermal scavenging device of the dispensing system,thermal energy from a portion of a human user when the portion of thehuman user enters a material dispense zone; and initiating the dispenseevent of the dispensing system by transforming the thermal energy,comprising transferred heat, into electrical energy and using theelectrical energy to cause the dispensing system to dispense material.9. The method of claim 8, wherein the collecting the thermal energy isperformed while the portion of the human user is a distance away fromthe dispensing system.
 10. The method of claim 8, comprising:collecting, via the thermal scavenging device, second thermal energy;transforming the second thermal energy into second electrical energy;and storing the second electrical energy.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the storing comprises storing the second electrical energywithin at least one of a battery, a capacitor or a super capacitor. 12.The method of claim 8, comprising: collecting, via the thermalscavenging device, second thermal energy; transforming the secondthermal energy into second electrical energy; and modifying a shape of adispenser nozzle based upon the second electrical energy.
 13. The methodof claim 8, wherein the dispensing system is configured to dispense atleast one of a liquid material, a powder material, an aerosol material,a soap, an anti-bacterial gel, a cleanser, a disinfectant or a lotion.14. A system for harvesting thermal energy for utilization by adispensing system, comprising: a thermal scavenging device configuredto: collect thermal energy from a portion of a human user when theportion of the human user enters a material dispense zone; and transformthe thermal energy into electrical energy; and a utilization deviceconfigured to: utilize the electrical energy to cause the dispensingsystem to perform one or more tasks.
 15. The system of claim 14, whereinthe collecting the thermal energy is performed while the portion of thehuman user is a distance away from the dispensing system.
 16. The systemof claim 14, wherein the thermal scavenging device is configured tocollect second thermal energy and transform the second thermal energyinto second electrical energy, and the utilization device is configuredto store the second electrical energy.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein the utilization device is configured to store the secondelectrical energy within at least one of a battery, a capacitor or asuper capacitor.
 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the thermalscavenging device is configured to collect second thermal energy andtransform the second thermal energy into second electrical energy, andthe utilization device is configured to modify a shape of a dispensernozzle based upon the second electrical energy.
 19. The system of claim14, wherein the one or more tasks comprise at least one of a detect usertask or a validate refill container task.
 20. The system of claim 14,wherein the dispensing system is configured to dispense at least one ofa soap, an anti-bacterial gel, a cleanser, a disinfectant or a lotion.